The Perfect One-Day Walking Route Through Downtown Knoxville

If you want to actually see downtown, you can’t spend 15 minutes there. It’s small, sure, and it doesn’t take long to walk from one end to the other, but that’s just going from point A to point B. 

You can’t appreciate anything it has to offer if you go about it this way.

If all you want is something to eat, then it’s totally fine to head straight for Market Square, grab lunch, and move on. You’ll miss out on a lot, though, because the walking route through downtown is pretty cool. It makes sense because it follows the way Knoxville grew, from the water that first brought people here to the commercial corridor and public spaces. 

Let me show you how to make a day out of walking here.

Spend the Morning in the Historic Heart of Downtown

I was recently talking to my friend who was researching Fernwayer’s offers and decided to book Lima coastal experiences. There’s not a doubt in my mind that she’ll have the time of her life, plus she’s always traveling anyway because it’s her favorite thing in the world. 

But that got me thinking: is it really necessary to go away in order to appreciate a place?

I don’t think it is, so I figured, let’s make Knoxville’s downtown into an experience.  

The walk starts at Market Square because where else are you going to start, right? 

This square has been the center of life in Knoxville for more than 100 years, way before we had any shops and restaurants here. And you can see why that is; with all the buildings being around all 4 sides, it looks more like an outdoor room.

Then we go to Gay Street (the heart of downtown Knoxville), where the buildings change as you walk.

It starts with old brick facades, then turns to mid-century styles (which are more plain), then back to restored early 1900s fronts, which are my personal favorite. The Tennessee Theatre is right in the middle, and I think it’s important to mention it because, while other cities were destroying their old movie palaces, Knoxville saved it. 

Talk about local values, huh? Make sure to look up as you walk. 

Everything on the street level changes all the time, but if you look up, you’ll see that the upper floors look like they’ve been frozen in time.

Follow the River

Now we head south toward the Tennessee River. 

The river gave the settlers a way to move goods and people before they had roads and trains, and without the river, we’d have no downtown.

Volunteer Landing is on the water now, but it didn’t used to be like that. For most of the city’s history, the riverfront was the place for warehouses and rail lines. It was all work all the time. Luckily, that changed, and now there are walking paths and greenery near it. This path along the water will give you a totally different view of the city. Being here, it seems crazy that the Market Square is only a few blocks away. I can stand here for hours and just watch the water move.

It’s incredibly peaceful, and it also makes you truly find the answer to why this place grew right here.

End the Day With the Knoxville the Locals Know

At this point in the day, you’ve seen the big stuff and the afternoon light is getting softer. 

This is the time when you’ll see a different kind of downtown.

As it is with most places, it’s the little stuff that’s most surprising and unique, so put the map (or the phone) down and pay attention to the little streets.

There are plenty of independent bookstores and coffee shops full of locals. You’ll see murals where you wouldn’t expect to see them and galleries in places that used to sell hardware. The reason why these places are so important is that they let you experience the Knoxville the locals know. Nothing here is built to impress tourists, but it all shows what the locals care about. There’s a wonderful balance of old and new here, and it’s what keeps the downtown feel so alive.

You have to admit that this is a pretty neat walking route, and if you’re lucky enough to live here, what are you waiting for? Once the light starts to go down, wander a little and just enjoy the atmosphere. 

Even if you just end up walking around, at least walking is healthy.

Conclusion

This route is super cool because, not only is it beautiful, it actually shows how Knoxville came to be. Knoxville never stays the same, though, so WHEN you come (if you’re a tourist) plays a part. If you come in spring, you’ll see the Market Square full of fresh flowers. 

If you come in the fall, you’ll see the river reflecting all the colors the leaves are changing. 

There’s something new to see in each season, and you’ll love all of it.